Many of my formative years were spent watching, playing and studying the sport of basketball. That being said, I naturally tended to gravitate toward those individuals who displayed the greatest character, heart and passion for the game. And for my money, Hank Gathers could never be exceeded in any of those categories. As a weeping 12 year old child, I sat broken and dismayed at the news that one of my favorite basketball heroes and role models in life had died. No consolation could be offered, no explanation sufficient, that moment will live with me forever.
A couple of years following Eric "Hank" Gather's untimely passing, I was quite pleased to see that his life was to be portrayed in cinematic form, and that so many others who knew little if anything about the man could gain a sense of exactly who this enigmatic individual was. The film itself is not a tremendous example of exemplary acting, directing, or writing. But, the story, the meaning, the truth of the message is delivered in impeccable fashion. Nell Carter delivers without a doubt the premier performance, cast in a role tailor-made for her skills, she portray's Hank's stern, but very loving mother and does so perfectly. Victor Love as Hank and Duane Davis as Bo Kimble were slightly less impressive, yet personified their charters quite well. Lost in much of the film's focus on Hank's later years at Loyola Marymount is George Kennedy's portrayal of "Father Dave", the tough-love coach who helped to ground a young Hank Gathers and act as a surrogate in light of an absent father in the Gather's household.
Shot on an obviously low budget, Charles Braverman does a very nice job of giving the audience a look into the life and times of an unforgettable sports figure, and more than that, the loving and human side of the man that revered himself to almost anyone he ever came in contact with. Final Shot: The Hank Gather's story I would highly recommend personally if you enjoy heart-felt stories of true life. You will not be blown away by star power or high-budget sets or effects, but you will feel something when you watch this movie. A sad story in one sense, but thoroughly inspirational in every way. By the way, if you have tendency to get a bit teary-eyed, keep the tissue close by.
